Power means for aircraft



Jan, l, g A, ERIKSSON POWER MEANS FOR AIRCRAFT Filed June 12, 1951 Patented Jan. 10, 1933 ANDREAS ERIKSSON, F CHICAGO, LLNOS POWER MEANS FOR .ARGB-AFT fr Application filed June 12, 1931.

result that a more uniform drive and more l5 satisfactory operation results.

Another and further importa-nt object of the invention resides in the provision of a modified means of propellant for aircraft and the like whereby a series of propellers operating in wind tunnels is distributed over either all or a major portion of the body of the craft, and wherein full advantage is taken of the streamline and venturi edect of columns of air in motion.

Another and still further important object of the invention resides in the provision of auxiliary motors in connection with an aircraft which motors can be tilted so as to enable their driving force to be exerted at angles to the horizontal.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawing and fol- -Y lowing specification.

rlhe invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of an aircraft equipped with the novel power means of this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail view, partly in section, of one of the combined wind tunnel and propeller elements used as a portion of the power means.

Figure L1 is a detail View, parts being broken away, of a means for controlling the angle of operation of the auxiliary motors.

Serial No. 543,803.

As shown in the drawing:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally the wing surface of the aircraft of this invention, the same having depending struts or the like 12 to which is attached a fuselage or some other form of body which body will include either landing gear or pontoons as desired. VThe shape of the wing is curving` downwardly as best illustrated in Figure 1,

this shape giving a streamline effect, thereby w decreasing air resistance, while at the same time maintaining an effective lifting surface.

Mounted upon the wing 10 and held in position thereon by a series of horizontal struts UD le and 1G is a series of tubular elements 18, 20, 22, etc.

Each of these tubular elements is fixed in position, but in the forward end of each is rotatably mounted a sleeve 24- as best illus- ,L trated in Figure 3, this sleeve having interiorly mounted propeller blades or the like 26, these being on a central shaft 28 which shaft itself is mounted in a rotor or other suitable bearing ele-ment 30. I

Around the periphery of the forward edge of each of the elements 2% is a friction band r the like 32 which can'be composed of rubber or similar material, and which closely contacts with a similar band on the adjacent .n cylinder or wind tunnel. L

The forward edge of the central wind tunnel 18 is positively rotated by means of a motor or the like which drives propeller blades 35, thereby forcing a stream of air through the cylinder or tunnel`r and it will be obvious that rotation of the forward edge of the cylinder 18 will, on account of its close contact with the forward edges of the adjacent cylinders cause them to rotate, and c they in turn will rotate those adjacent with the result that all of the propeller blades in the respective cylinders or tunnels will be in motion. rihe angle of inclination of the blades themselves will be alternately reversed so that air will l e forced through the tunnels or cylinders, all in one direction.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 8, the inner edges of certain of the cylinders or tunnels are cut away as at e0, this reducing a further streamline effect and less air resistance,

while at the same time an aspirating or suction effect is created in the space between the cylinders and the wing l0, such as the space indicated by the reference numerals 42 and 4l in Figure l. In this way, an alditional eiiiciency is obtained. rlhe wingr lO is provided at its rear with fins or rudder elements e6, and mounted above the entire structure which comprises the wing and its associated tunnels is a framework or the like 4S whereon is supported a pair of auxiliary motors sueh as illustrated at 50 and which drive propeller blades or the like 52. At l0 is also a cutaway in wing l() to produce the right effect of propeller 52.

These motors are tiltably mounted on a common supporting shaft 5l, the said shaft having ailizzed thereto at its central portion a semi-circular rack or the like 55, `l riphery of the rack beingprovided with gea teeth 58 which are in mesh with an opera :in gear cage G0 as best shown in Figure l, this, in turn, being controlled by the rotation of a shaft 52 upon which the `rear cage is mounted, and which shaft 62 extends downwardly to the gondola or fuselage of the aircraft. Obviously, a suitable rotation of the shaft (32 will cause a correspon ling; tilting of the motors 50, and their associated propeller blades 52, whereby the effective angle of op eration of the propeller blades can be varied from the horizontal to e'deet a climbing; or divingr action as desired or necessary. This action can, of course, be associated with the fins or rudders 46 either manually or automatically as desired.

It will be evident that herein is provided a novel and useful power means for aircraft whereby the effective pull or push of the propeller blades is distributed over a very considerable area, while at the same time only a very small additional amount of power is required, thereby resulting in increased efiiciency. Additionally, the wind tunnel action associated with the respective propellers provides for a better distribution of effective power in the air throughout, and the aspirating effect of the moving current of air is likewise used to full advantage.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A power means for aircraft, comprising a central motor, and a plurality of sets of propeller blades operatively associated therewith, and a wind tunnel structure associated with each of said sets of propeller blades, and a revolvable forward edge for each of said wind tunnel structures, certain ine peof the sets of propeller blades mounted in said forward edge.

2. A power means ior aircraft, comprising a central motor, and a plurality of sets of propeller blades operatively associated therewith, and a wind tunnel structure associated with each of said sets of propeller blades, and a revolvable forward edge for each of said wind tunnel structures, and drive connections between said revolvable forward edges.

3. A power means for aircraft, comprising a central motor, and a` plurality of sets of propeller l'ilades operatively associated therewith, and a Yind tunnel structure associated with ea ch of said sets of propeller blades, and a rei'olvable forward edge for each of said wind tunnel structures, and frictional drive connections between said rcvoliable forward edges.

A power meanc for air raft. comprisingr with each of said sets of propeller blades. to- @ether with auxiliary motors independent of the first-named motor, and means for ting' the effective anule of operation of said auxiliary motors, said means comprising a common shaft upon which said motors are mounted, and means for rotating said shaft. said means comprising a racl; mounted on the shaft, and a gear. and a shaft associated with the racl; for moving the same, and means for creatingr an air stream-line. said means comprising eut-aways in tunnels and also in wings.

5. A power means for aircraft, includiu a entral motor. a central wind terminal associated therewith. a plurality of sets of auxi liary propeller blades, a wind tunnel associated witlA each auxiliary propeller blanc set, and means for drivingV the auxiliarv blades from the central motor. said means comprisinfir rotatable frictionally contactingf and driven forward edges of iuxtaposed wind tunnels.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ANDREAS ERIKSSON. 

